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Claude Noin designed the Choucas, a side-by-side touring motorglider of tailless configuration, using the same materials as the Sirius. The Choucas (French for "jackdaw") is a two-place side-by-side (may be flown from either seat) touring motorglider (ULM under French regulations) with front-mounted engine. Designed as a light, economical and safe touring motorglider, the Choucas is available for amateur construction. It is commercialized as a partial kit for homebuilders, including all the molded composite components. This motorglider has a fast-build fuselage kit.The Choucas design was initiated in 1994 and the prototype flew for the first time at the end of 1996. The Choucas accumulated over 500 hours of testing in a flight school environment. It has proven itself as an incredibly versatile and easy-to-fly aircraft. ALPAERO, pre-manufacture Choucas sub-assemblies the facilities at Gap-Tallard, the most difficult parts, requiring the use of composite materials, large molds, special tools or skills, are all pre-manufactured. The wings can be built easily with traditional wood and fabric techniques, and all other fabrications can be accomplished by average builders.Flying controls: flying wing formula, pitch control by elevators in inboard wing trailing-edge, ailerons outboard, large rudder. Trim tabs on elevators, DSF spoilers/airbrakes on upper surface wing.Structure: standard fuselage molded in half-shells of carbon fibre/epoxy (with glass fibre/epoxy fuselage available at lower cost with weight penalty), composites wing structure with wooden main spar and glass fibre/epoxy stiffened Styrofoam ribs. The wing uses a modified Abrial/St Cyr airfoil, with 17 % thickness, it can be detached in two parts weighing 55 kg each (on the prototype). Leading edge made of hot wire cut foam laminated with glass fibre and epoxy resin, as an alternative the leading edges can be built as a birch plywood D-section, or molded in carbon fibre. Wing covered with heat-shrink Dacron. Lexan/polycarbonate canopy with carbon fibre frame.Landing gear: The landing gear is a one-piece composite part, and can be used as a step to access the cockpit.tailwheel type, fixed. Streamlined fairings on main legs and wheels. Drum brakes.